With pristine coastlines and wildlife filled estuaries as your muse, explore the beauty of North Carolina’s barrier islands and learn the skills and techniques to better your digital photography. Expert workshops and hands-on demonstrations led by a photography instructor introduce all the options of your digital camera, as well as cover the basics of composition, presentation and digital manipulation. After learning your camera inside and out, take your knowledge into the field!

Highlights

• Test your skills during a photo shoot at Fort Macon, a Civil War fort on the National Register of Historic Places.• Utilize natural lighting as you take photos of the live oaks that line the streets of historic Beaufort.• At the beach and estuary, wildlife opportunities abound.

Activity Particulars

Walking along gravel paths, slightly hilly terrain. Field trips involve walking, but golf carts are available. Beach and some paths not handicapped accessible.

Bring digital camera with owner’s manual and memory device. Those interested in traditional photography are invited to bring non-digital equipment. Program intended for beginners but all skill levels are welcome.

Date Specific Information

11-29-2015

Coastal Christmas theme. Visit Tryon Palace in New Bern, NC at Christmas to photograph the grounds of the colonial governor's palace and the quaint riverside village, in place of field trips to Fort Macon and Cape Lookout National Seashore.

Coordinated by Trinity Conference Center.

Southern Outer Banks

The southern outpost of the scenic barrier islands known collectively as the "Outer Banks" is an ecologically rich region that stands in contrast to the more developed destinations in the north. This relative remoteness lends to quiet beaches, abundant wildlife and tranquil vistas.

Accommodations
Trinity Center, nestled in the maritime forest on the Outer Banks, is located on a 62-acre island preserve with one-third mile of beach and sound-front property. Award-winning landscaping provides restful surroundings. Complete with attractive meeting and dining areas.

Road Scholar Instructors

These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur.

Mindy Furrer

After graduating with a bachelor’s in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin, Mindy Furrer wasn't sure she was quite ready to teach in the classroom. Instead, she joined the Peace Corps and for two years taught ESL and social sciences on the island nation of Kiribati. Her next adventure brought her to the Outer Banks, where she is now the program coordinator at the Trinity Center for the Sound to Sea Environmental Education Program.

Karen Baggott

Karen Baggott has been involved in photography for more than 30 years, since her early days with a rangefinder camera while living in Maine. In 1992, she earned an A.A.S. in photography technology from Carteret Community College, and today exhibits her work in numerous shows and throughout North Carolina. Karen is a past recipient of the regional artist project grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, and enjoys playing the piano and writing poetry in her spare time.

Rodney Kemp

A crowd-pleaser and proven spellbinder of adults and children alike, Rodney Kemp is a local boy who managed to remember all those tales he heard while growing up. Born in Knoxville, Tenn., Rodney earned a degree in journalism from Texas Tech University. He became a teacher and taught at Newport Elementary School and West Carteret High School, and is a member and chairman of the Carteret County Board of Education. An avid sportsman, Rodney has completed the running of 12 marathons since 1982.

Amenities per room include one double and one single bed, private bath with stand-up shower, a dresser, vanity, and nightstand with alarm clock and reading lamp, and are individually heated and cooled. Linens (bed sheets and bath towels) are provided for most groups.

Facility amenities:

Outdoor pool is available mid-May to mid-October. 1500 feet of private beach on the Atlantic Ocean (no lifeguards). Limited internet access available upon request.

Smoking allowed:

Yes

Additional nights prior:

$40 for the room. Meals extra. Additional nights are offered on a space available basis. Meals can be added on individually. Breakfast is $7, Lunch is $7 and Dinner is $11.

Check in time:

4:00 PM

Additional nights after:

$40 for the room. Meals extra. Additional nights are offered on a space available basis. Meals can be added on individually. Breakfast is $7, Lunch is $7 and Dinner is $11.

From Airport

Service:

Per Person/One Way:

$75Prices are subject to change.

Travel Time:

1 hour 23 minutes

Distance:

50 miles

If flying into Jacksonville, taxi service is available. Rental cars are also available at the airport.

Raleigh, NC

From Airport

Service:

None - Car Required

Per Person/One Way:

$45-70/ dayPrices are subject to change.

Travel Time:

3

Distance:

170 Miles

Renting a car is the only way to get directly from the Raleigh Airport to Trinity Center.

Driving
Directions

From Highway 24 or Highway 70

From Highway 70:
Follow US 70 into Morehead City. Follow signs to Atlantic Beach and cross the bridge onto Bogue Banks. Turn Right at the traffic light onto Highway 58 (West Fort Macon Road). Continue approximately 7 miles. Trinity Center is on the right, between mile markers 9 and 10. (If you pass the blue water tower, you have gone too far!)
From Highway 24:
Follow NC 24 through Swansboro. At the Highway 24 and 58 intersection, turn right. Cross the bridge to Emerald Isle. Continue approximately 11 miles. Trinity Center is on the left, between mile markers 10 and 9 (just past the blue water tower.)

Equipment Requirements: Participants must bring digital camera with owner's manual and memory device for camera. Those interested in traditional photography are invited to bring non digital equipment. A laptop is recommended but not required for workshop.

The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Introductions & Orientation to the program
Workshops: Break into two groups to learn your camera and practice macro function
Barrier Island Ecology class and walk
Bird of Prey program and photo shoot(Monday, November 17)

Note: Barrier Island Ecology walk will include walking at a slow to moderate pass on uneven and sandy paths. A golf cart will be available.

Breakfast:

Breakfast from 8-9am

Morning:

Lecture on proper photography techniques and the features of your digital camera. Bring your camera and the owners manual.

Morning:

Introduction to your instructors and orientation to the class.

Lunch:

Lunch from 12-1pm

Afternoon:

Barrier Island Ecology Walk. Take a field trip of our beautiful barrier island beach and estuary settings of our 62-acre reserve. Use the skills you learned in your workshops to capture nature at work. Your instructor will be a local naturalist who will help you find many great photo opportunities.

Afternoon:

Lecture and Hands on instruction on how to effectively use your macro setting to create still life photographs.

Dinner:

Dinner from 6-7pm

Evening:

Observation and information on our resident Birds of Prey. The birds will be perched and walked around the room for photographic opportunity.

Workshop: Natural Lighting and Composition
Field trip to Fort Macon
Evening Feedback and Critique(Tuesday, November 18)

Note: Fort Macon field trip includes walking on uneven grounds.

Breakfast:

Breakfast from 8-9 am

Morning:

Lecture and field work on using natural lighting and composition.

Lunch:

Lunch from 12-1pm

Afternoon:

A trip to Fort Macon, a pentagon-shaped Civil War Fort built in 1826-1834, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, will provide fascinating architecture for additional photo opportunities.

Field trip to uninhabited barrier island to photograph wild horses and other wildlife.
Field trip to Historic Beaufort
Sunset Photo Shoot
Time For You(Wednesday, November 19)

Note: Field trips include walking on uneven and sandy surfaces and standing for more than 20 minutes at a time.

Breakfast:

Breakfast from 8-9am

Morning:

Climb aboard a passenger ferry to travel to Cape Lookout National Seashore. Take pictures of the lighthouse and pristine beaches.

Lunch:

Lunch at a local seafood restaurant.

Afternoon:

Field trip to historic Beaufort. Use the knowledge of natural lighting to take pictures of the old Live Oaks that line the street. Then take a stroll on the docks and through the historic cemetery to capture this unique photo opportunity.

Technology Workshop: If you plan to bring your own laptop, you will have an opportunity to participate in a digital critique with the instructor, who can show you how to edit your pictures with Adobe Photoshop Elements or Picasa. For those familiar with these programs take some more time to explore our 62-acre reserve with your camera.

Lunch:

Lunch from 11:30-12:30

Meals
Included:

Breakfast, Lunch

Free Time Opportunities

Salter Path, NC

General OverviewThere are so many cultural and natural areas of interest in coastal North Carolina. Please read about the many options at Trinity Center's website. For additional information, visit www.trinityctr.com/other.html

Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Suggested Reading List

Photoshop Elements 9 Book for Digital Photographers

Author: Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski

Description: Our course will give you the choice of learning about Picasa or Photoshop. For those interested in Photoshop this is the book our instructor uses as a reference and will bring to the program.
This book breaks new ground by doing something for digital photographers thats never been done beforeit cuts through the bull and shows you exactly how to do it. Its not a bunch of theory; it doesnt challenge you to come up with your own settings or figure things out on your own. Instead, it does something that virtually no other Elements book has ever doneit tells you flat-out which settings to use, when to use them, and why.
If youre looking for one of those tell-me-everything-about-the-Unsharp-Mask-filter books, this isnt it. You can grab any other Elements book on the shelf, because they all do that. Instead, this book gives you the inside tips and tricks of the trade for organizing, correcting, editing, sharpening, retouching, and printing your photos like a pro. Youll be absolutely amazed at how easy and effective these techniques areonce you know the secrets. (From amazon.com)

Seaside Naturalist: A Guide to Study at the Seashore

Author: Deborah A. Coulombe

Description: Illustrated guide book to plants and animals found on the Eastern coast. This is the go to book for our education staff when faced with unknown species from the sound or the sea.

Author: Mikkel Asland

Description: Aimed at photographers of all levels and ranges of interest, this new edition of Aaland's popular guide takes readers beyond the technology of the latest cameras and equipment to teach them the unique aesthetics of the digital image. Helpful examples explain how to take full advantage of RAW file formats, JPEG 2000, panorama automation, and more.
Mikkel Aaland (San Francisco, CA) is an award-winning photographer and author whose photography has been published in magazines and exhibited around the world. A digital camera is functionally identical to a traditional film camera in all respects except image storage, right? Not at all, and Mikkel Aaland shows exactly why in his excellent Shooting Digital. He shows why digital cameras--the point-and-shoot variety as well as fancier models meant for professional photographers--are overall neither better nor worse than cameras of older design, and goes on to show you how to take advantage of their special traits. He shows how to compensate for their shortcomings, too, notably shutter lag (for which he documents a useful testing procedure) and color fringing. Though there's some coverage of creating animated GIFs, this book generally sticks to shooting time and leaves editing to other volumes. (From amazon.com)

You can't find a better value than Road Scholar.

As a not-for-profit organization, we are dedicated to providing all-inclusive educational programs at great value. From lectures to gratuities to field trips to accommodations - the tuition you pay up front is all that you pay.

Specifically, this program includes:

5 nights accommodations

15 meals:
5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners

Expert-led lectures: 7

Expert-led lectures

Led by one or more of our world-class instructors, typically in a classroom setting, lectures come in the form of presentations, discussions or workshops and offer expert insight into your area of study.

Field trips: 3

Field trips

The world is your classroom, as you're on location with an instructor to pursue your educational theme firsthand.

Hands-on experiences: 8

Hands-on experiences

Learn by doing in these "hands-on" activities directed by an expert.

Performances: 1

Performances

A performance can range from a night at the opera to a visit from a local performer at your hotel.

Plus these special experiences...

Test your skills during a photo shoot at Fort Macon, a Civil War fort listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Climb aboard a passenger ferry and travel to a barrier island inhabited only by wild horses and other wildlife.

Utilize natural lighting as you take photos of the live oaks that line the streets of historic Beaufort.

Spend a morning sunrise exploring the beach and estuary for opportunities to photograph wildlife and pristine beach scenes.

View the Daily Schedule to see more

And included with all Road Scholar programs:

Learning led by expert instructors who are authorities in the field of study.

An experienced Group Leader attuned to the needs of Road Scholar participants.

Customary gratuities throughout the program that you would normally pay yourself.